Factors Influencing the Utilization of Health Services for Supervised Delivery by Mothers in Lower Manya Krobo District

Abstract

The objective of the study was to investigate the factors that influence mothers’ utilization of health services for supervised delivery in the Lower Manya Krobo District. A cross-sectional study was made. The study involved the administration of structured questionnaires to collect information from 350 women with children under one year in the Lower Manya Krobo district. In-depth interviews were carried out with service managers (Midwives) and community leaders. A combined multi-staged, stratified and purposive sampling was used to select the respondents for this study. Cross tabulation and Chi-square test were the main instruments used in presenting and analysing the relationships between variables. Logistic regression analysis using SPSS was done to describe the nature of underlying relationship between variables. The result demonstrated the impact of antenatal attendance on mothers’ delivery behaviour. Mothers who attended antenatal services trice or more were seen to deliver more at the health facilities than those who attended antenatal twice or less (chi-square = 6.5, df= 2, p< 0.03). Chi-square test of independence between who takes decision and place of delivery was significant (chi-square = 1.7, df = 5, p<0.05). Evidently, percentage delivery at health facility was highest among the women who had the autonomy to decide where to deliver. Economic and physical factors such as cost of hiring a car and long distance to health facilities respectively also played significant roles in influencing mothers’ delivery behaviour. Cultural norms and traditional practices, attitude of health care staff, ethnicity and religion did not statistically play any significant role in mothers’ delivery behaviour. Recommendation: There is the need for full adoption of WHO goal oriented ANC package and the design of individual birth plans by the district as well as social policies to address maternal health issues.